Bear Creek Campground
Campground
Campground · 5.8 mi from the trail
Connecticut · Hiking · Near Middletown
Nature Center
Photo: Morrowlong, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- 2.5 mi
- one way
- 348 ft
- climb
- 789 ft
- high point
- Point to point
- route
- Apr–Oct
- best months
The Nature Center hike in Connecticut is a short, easy outing about 2.5 miles long, starting near Whigville, which sits less than a mile away. The trail rises from about 580 feet to roughly 790 feet, with a total climb of 348 feet, and the steepest stretch comes around the 1.9-mile mark at about 55% grade. The route is a point-to-point path rather than a loop, and horses are not allowed. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Burlington show May highs around 70°F and September highs around 75°F, with July the warmest month at about 84°F. Several other trails start within a mile, including the Tree Identification Trail, the Purple Trail and the White Trail. Climbers can head to Petro Cliffs, about 2.2 miles away.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after Friendly's
Restaurant
On your way back · 3 mi
If it rainsJohn Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsHorology museum in Connecticut, United States
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons)
More in MiddletownBest time to go · Apr–Oct
Best time to visit Nature Center
Best months: April–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
36° / 17°
10 wet · 4 snow
Feb
39° / 18°
9 wet · 3 snow
Mar
47° / 26°
10 wet · 2 snow
Apr
59° / 36°
11 wet
May
70° / 47°
12 wet
Jun
78° / 57°
11 wet
Jul
84° / 62°
11 wet
Aug
82° / 60°
10 wet
Sep
75° / 53°
9 wet
Oct
63° / 41°
10 wet
Nov
52° / 32°
9 wet
Dec
41° / 24°
11 wet · 2 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Burlington, CT, 4.9 mi away at 505 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: pedrik, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Tree Identification Trail
~1 min drive
0.48-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 29 ft gain.
HIKE
Blue-Yellow Trail
~4 min drive
8.78-mile point-to-point Connecticut trail through woodland terrain.
Photo: Morrowlong, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Purple Trail
~1 min drive
A short point-to-point trail ideal for quick Connecticut hikes.
Photo: Morrowlong, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)White Trail
~1 min drive
White Trail is a 0.46-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 23 ft of elevation gain.
Photo: pedrik, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Crosscut Trail
~1 min drive
Brief point-to-point connector trail through Connecticut forest.
Photo: TrevorBrightman, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Blue-Orange Trail
~2 min drive
3.08-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 438 ft elevation gain
Photo: TrevorBrightman, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Blue-Green Trail
~3 min drive
0.63-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 67 ft gain and 125 ft loss.
Photo: TrevorBrightman, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Tunxis Blue-Red South Trail
~3 min drive
1.10-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 142 ft gain.
Photo: TrevorBrightman, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Yellow Diamond Trail
~4 min drive
2.35-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 485 ft elevation gain
Photo: TrevorBrightman, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)White-Yellow Trail
~4 min drive
1.79-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 198 ft gain.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
